Capacitor harvester

Abstract

A circuit interrupting device including a vacuum interrupter, a separable ceramic capacitor, and an insulating housing. The vacuum interrupter includes a vacuum bottle and first and second contacts disposed within the vacuum bottle. The second contact is movable relative to the first contact between a closed position and an open position. The separable ceramic capacitor is electrically connected in parallel with the vacuum interrupter provided over an outer surface of the vacuum bottle. The insulating housing encloses the separable ceramic capacitor and the vacuum interrupter.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A circuit interrupting device comprising:
 a vacuum interrupter including
 a vacuum bottle, and 
 a first contact and a second contact disposed within the vacuum bottle, the second contact movable relative to the first contact between a closed position and an open position; 
   a separable ceramic capacitor electrically connected in parallel with the vacuum interrupter and provided over an outer surface of the vacuum bottle; and   an insulating housing that encloses the separable ceramic capacitor and the vacuum interrupter.   
     
     
         2 . The circuit interrupting device of  claim 1 , wherein the separable ceramic capacitor is cylindrical and has an inner diameter configured for sliding over the vacuum bottle. 
     
     
         3 . The circuit interrupting device of  claim 1 , wherein the separable ceramic capacitor includes a ceramic dielectric material provided between metallized plates, wherein the ceramic dielectric material provides a dielectric gap for the separable ceramic capacitor, wherein the metallized plates are offset axially. 
     
     
         4 . The circuit interrupting device of  claim 3 , wherein the separable ceramic capacitor is hollow and includes a first opening on a first side and a second opening on a second side. 
     
     
         5 . The circuit interrupting device of  claim 4 , wherein the separable ceramic capacitor is slidingly received over the vacuum bottle. 
     
     
         6 . The circuit interrupting device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an insulating jacket disposed on the outer surface of the vacuum bottle, wherein the separable ceramic capacitor is provided over the insulating jacket.   
     
     
         7 . The circuit interrupting device of  claim 1 , wherein the insulating housing includes:
 a first surface for connecting the insulating housing to a power distribution component; and   a second surface for connecting the insulating housing to a mounting structure that is coupled to a utility pole,   wherein the separable ceramic capacitor is electrically connected between an alternating current (AC) line voltage source and a converter.   
     
     
         8 . The circuit interrupting device of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a first overvoltage disconnect component electrically connected between the AC line voltage source and ground.   
     
     
         9 . A recloser comprising:
 a terminal configured to electrically connect the recloser to a power line included in a power distribution network;   one or more electronic components;   a vacuum interrupter electrically connected between the terminal and the one or more electronic components, the vacuum interrupter including a first contact and a second contact movable relative to the first contact between a closed position and an open position;   a separable ceramic capacitor electrically connected in parallel with the vacuum interrupter; and   an insulating housing that encloses the separable ceramic capacitor and the vacuum interrupter.   
     
     
         10 . The recloser of  claim 9 , wherein the separable ceramic capacitor surrounds the first and second contacts. 
     
     
         11 . The recloser of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a current transformer configured to provide power to the one or more electronic components with power from the power line when the first and second contacts are in the closed position; and   a harvester circuit configured to provide power to the one or more electronic components with power from the separable ceramic capacitor when the first and second contacts are in the open position.   
     
     
         12 . The recloser of  claim 11 , wherein the harvester circuit includes:
 a rectifier configured to convert alternating current (AC) power flowing through the separable ceramic capacitor into direct current (DC) power output; and   an electrolytic capacitor that is configured to provide the DC power output by the rectifier to the one or more electronic components.   
     
     
         13 . The recloser of  claim 12 , wherein the harvester circuit further includes a zener diode electrically connected in parallel with the electrolytic capacitor; and
 wherein the electrolytic capacitor outputs DC power to the one or more electronic components at a voltage level that is approximately equal to a breakdown voltage of the zener diode.   
     
     
         14 . The recloser of  claim 9 , wherein the separable ceramic capacitor includes a ceramic dielectric material provided between axially offset metallized plates, and wherein the separable ceramic capacitor is slidingly received over the vacuum interrupter. 
     
     
         15 . A method of manufacturing a vacuum interrupter including a vacuum bottle enclosing first and second contacts, the method comprising:
 sliding a separable ceramic capacitor over the vacuum bottle; and   enclosing the vacuum bottle and the separable ceramic capacitor in an insulating housing.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising forming the separable ceramic capacitor by providing a ceramic dielectric material between metallized plates. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising axially offsetting the metallized plates. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the separable ceramic capacitor is electrically connected in parallel with the vacuum bottle. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 providing an insulating jacket around an outer surface of the vacuum bottle, wherein the separable ceramic capacitor is slid over the insulating jacket.